Rolls-Royce gas turbines to help BP boost UK gas supplies

Rolls-Royce has signed a contract valued at more than $24 million to supply BP with two gas turbine mechanical drive packages for use at the Dimlington onshore compression facility on the east coast of England.

The two RB211-GT61 Dry Low Emissions (DLE) gas turbines will be an integral part of a £125 million investment BP is making in its southern North Sea business to increase recoverable gas reserves and create opportunities for further offshore development.

The two RB211 units will help reduce pipeline pressure between the offshore gas fields and the terminal, allowing the gas fields to increase production.

BP expects the remaining recoverable reserves in the West Sole and Amethyst fields to increase by around 30 per cent as a result of installing the two 44,000 horsepower Rolls-Royce units.

Dave Blackwood, Director of BP’s North Sea business said: “At a time when developing new gas resources in the UK is a great challenge, with low gas prices and rising development costs, this innovative project will make a valuable contribution to boosting indigenous gas reserves, sustaining production and extending the life of existing gas fields.”

Tom Curley, President of the Rolls-Royce energy business added: “This latest order extends our excellent close working relationship with BP. We are excited to be playing an integral part in this innovative project that will help maximise BP’s operations in the North Sea.”

The two new RB211 compression sets will be packaged at the Rolls-Royce facility in Mount Vernon, Ohio, USA, and are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2008.